Ezekiel 9

1Then he called out in my hearing with a loud voice, “Come near, you who are to punish the city, each with his weapon of destruction in his hand!”

2Then six men came from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with his weapon for smashing in his hand. Among them was a man clothed in linen, with a writing kit at his waist. They came in and stood beside the bronze altar.

3Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub on which it rested to the threshold of the house. He called to the man clothed in linen who had the writing kit at his waist.

4Yahweh said to him, “Go through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the people who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.”

5To the others he said in my hearing, “Go through the city after him and strike. Do not let your eye spare, and have no pity.

6Kill old men, young men and young women, little children and women, and destroy them, but do not come near anyone who has the mark. Begin at my sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were in front of the house.

7He said to them, “Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain. Go!” So they went out and struck down people throughout the city.

8While they were striking them down, I was left alone, and I fell facedown and cried out, “Ah, Lord Yahweh! Will you destroy everyone who remains in Israel as you pour out your wrath on Jerusalem?”

9He said to me, “The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great. The land is full of bloodshed, and the city is full of injustice. For they say, ‘Yahweh has abandoned the land, and Yahweh does not see.’

10As for me, my eye will not spare, and I will have no pity. I will bring their conduct down on their own heads.”

11Then the man clothed in linen, with the writing kit at his waist, brought back word: “I have done just as you commanded me.”